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Matt Crafton
ThorSport Racing
2019 Fantasy Outlook
The 18-season veteran has become the truck series' elder statesman. At 42-years-old Crafton is one of the oldest driver's in the series. Unfortunately, we've begun to see some performance and skill deterioration in the two-time champion. Crafton labored through his toughest season since 2012 last year. He went winless for the first time in six years, and his Top-10 total of 13 was his lowest since 2011. Crafton's 69 laps led were also his lowest total in a number of years, and illustrates how tough the 2018 season was for the No. 88 team. We expect Crafton to be back with this race team in 2019, but don't expect in major rebounds in performance. It seems that some of the younger talents in this racing series have caught and passed Crafton in the last two years. Read Past Outlooks
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Car No. 88 Ford
Crew Chief Carl Joiner Jr.
Country USA
Wins Truck Series Pole
Gander Outdoors Truck
October 12, 2019
Crafton won the pole for the Sugarlands Shine 250 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday morning. He turned a fast lap of 180.925 mph.
ANALYSIS
The veteran driver edged youngster Tyler Ankrum to grab the top start starting spot at Talledega Saturday. It was the third pole position of the season for Crafton and 16th of his truck series career. The ThorSport Racing veteran should challenge the Top 5 Saturday afternoon at Talledega Superspeedway.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matt Crafton
DraftKings NASCAR: 2019 Truck Series Rankings
DraftKings NASCAR: 2019 Truck Series Rankings
259 days ago
259 days ago
Mark Taylor ranks the top drivers in the Truck Series as Brett Moffitt will look to defend his championship after shocking the NASCAR world last season.
NASCAR Draft Kit: 2018 Truck Series Rankings
NASCAR Draft Kit: 2018 Truck Series Rankings
February 8, 2018
February 8, 2018
Mark Taylor ranks the top drivers in the Truck Series where Johnny Sauter is the odds on favorite to race away with the championship this season.
2017 Truck Series: Driver Rankings
2017 Truck Series: Driver Rankings
February 7, 2017
February 7, 2017
Mark Taylor ranks the top drivers in the Truck Series as the movce to GMS Racing paid off big time for Johnny Sauter last season.
NASCAR Draft Kit: Camping World Truck Series Drive Rankings
NASCAR Draft Kit: Camping World Truck Series Drive Rankings
February 5, 2016
February 5, 2016
Mark Taylor previews the Truck Series where Matt Crafton came up just short last season in his bid for three consecutive Camping World titles.
Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Preview: Setting the Stage
Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Preview: Setting the Stage
February 25, 2015
February 25, 2015
Mark Taylor likes Jeff Gordon to get his retirement tour off with a bang this week at Atlanta, where he's found great success recently.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2018
2017
2014
2008
ThorSport makes the shift from long-time Toyota team to Ford in 2018. That's a wrinkle to keep in mind going into the season, but in the big picture Crafton and this team bring the experience and skill to mount a serious threat for the championship. The veteran driver is a 14-time winner in this division of NASCAR and a two-time champion. Crafton's one-win and 16 Top-10 campaign of last season earned him a fourth-place finish in the standings. He should hold the line on those numbers and possibly even improve with the shakeup of talent and new, younger faces entering this racing series. Crafton is just two seasons removed from a six-win campaign and title. It's that homerun potential he brings to the plate in the upcoming season.
The two-time series champion lost out in a winner-take-all finale with former teammate, Johnny Sauter, at Homestead last season. Even though Crafton didn't win the title, he still had a tremendous season and one that is in line with his recent level of performance. The veteran Toyota driver claimed two wins early last season, but cooled off as the season progressed. Crafton still forged a 16 Top-10 campaign and that was good enough to advance into the final race of the Chase. He's been a Top-3 finisher in the driver standings for the last four consecutive seasons, and we don't see that changing in 2017. In fact, if there is any driver best-equipped and positioned to overtake Sauter in the quest for the championship, it's Crafton.
The two-time series champion came up short in his quest to win three titles in a row last year. Crafton would posts career-highs in wins with six and Top-5 finishes with 13, but still not claim the crown. That in no way tarnishes what the ThorSport Racing star has accomplished the last three years. He’s averaged three victories and 18 Top-10 finishes over that span and been the top driver in the Camping World Truck Series. We don’t see that changing in 2016. In fact, with this division of NASCAR getting younger, it likely elevates Crafton more than ever. His 361 starts of experience, and the strong No. 88 team make him king of the mountain this season, and top contender to win the championship.
Much like his teammate Johnny Sauter, Crafton too endured some consistency issues in 2012. The No. 88 Toyota team is usually a Top-10 go-getter each season, and struggles with the victory side of the equation. That was not the case last year. Crafton was largely invisible in claiming 14 Top-10 finishes, which is far short of the 18-20 we’re used to seeing from this driver and team. While Crafton finished a respectable sixth in the final championship standings, his average finish rose to 9.8 which is well above what we’re used to seeing. The ThorSport Racing star’s team returns intact from last season, with Carl Joiner still calling the shots from atop the pit box. We expect to see a return to consistency for Crafton in 2013.
More Fantasy News
Runner-up Finish in Fort Worth
Gander Outdoors Truck
June 8, 2019
Crafton finished second in the SpeedyCash.com 400 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night.
ANALYSIS
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Wins Charlotte Truck Series Pole
Gander Outdoors Truck
May 17, 2019
Crafton won the pole for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday afternoon. He turned a fast lap of 179.134 mph.
ANALYSIS
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Wins Truck Series Pole at Kansas
Gander Outdoors Truck
May 10, 2019
Crafton won the pole for the Digital Ally 250 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway Friday afternoon. He turned a fast lap of 177.288 mph.
ANALYSIS
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Third at Las Vegas
Gander Outdoors Truck
March 1, 2019
Crafton finished third in the Stratosphere 200 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday night.
ANALYSIS
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Fast Final Practice at Las Vegas
Gander Outdoors Truck
March 1, 2019
Crafton was fastest in Happy Hour practice for the Stratosphere 200 Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Thursday. He turned a fast lap of 179.922 mph.
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